No Progress Between Sudan and South Sudan: UN Security Council Discusses Abyei Situation
Moatinoon
The UN Security Council held a meeting to review the implementation of Resolution 2046, which addresses unresolved bilateral issues between Sudan and South Sudan, as well as the situation in the states of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. The council received a briefing from the UN Secretariat on the activities of the UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei and recent developments there.
Martha Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for African Affairs in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, began her briefing by stating that the ongoing war in Sudan continues to have a major impact on the security, economic, and humanitarian situation in both Sudan and South Sudan, including in the “Abyei Box” area, where the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) operates.
Pobee noted that hundreds of thousands of people have crossed the border from Sudan into South Sudan, fleeing the war. She stated, “Like South Sudanese citizens themselves, these refugees face challenging conditions, lacking sufficient access to clean water, food, healthcare, and other essential services.”
In Abyei, the proliferation of light and heavy weaponry persists, she added, highlighting reports from South Sudanese officials regarding incursions by groups from the Rapid Support Forces who looted two counties in the area.
Pobee indicated that armed group movements further exacerbate the fragile security situation in South Sudan and Abyei, especially concerning the pre-existing tensions between the Twic Mayardit and Dinka Ngok communities across Warrap State and Abyei.
Pobee also addressed climate-related challenges that have added further complexities. She reported that residents in South Sudan, Sudan, and Abyei were significantly impacted by heavy rains and flooding in October and September. In Abyei alone, over 18,000 people were displaced, more than 3,000 homes were destroyed, and floods devastated crops, infrastructure, and disrupted health and education services, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Pobee spoke of the impact of the ongoing conflict on residents of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, similar to other parts of Sudan, where fighting has persisted since April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces.
She noted that the war remains a significant source of instability in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel regions due to its severe security, humanitarian, and economic repercussions on Sudans neighbors.
Pobee stated that fully implementing Security Council Resolution 2046 is impossible without resolving the Sudan conflict. She added, “The impact of this war on the region requires a coordinated response from all UN agencies and relevant international partners. The Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa will continue to support the mediation efforts by the Secretary-General’s personal envoy for Sudan in his pursuit of an achievable and sustainable ceasefire.”
She added that the office would also continue to support the UN peacekeeping mission’s stabilizing role in South Sudan and the UN mission in Abyei, in collaboration with the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and other partners.
The UN official reported no progress this year in the dialogue between Sudan and South Sudan on the final status of Abyei and border issues. She noted that UNISFA would continue to monitor the situation and assess conditions for resuming talks.
The mission remains focused on supporting stability on the ground in Abyei. Pobee added that efforts to improve relations between the Dinka Ngok and Misseriya communities have gained momentum, with no recent clashes reported.
Another issue Pobee addressed is the continued presence of South Sudanese security personnel in southern Abyei. She noted that this deployment violates the 2011 agreement between Sudan and South Sudan on Abyei’s administration and security, resulting in repeated restrictions on UNISFA’s freedom of movement, contrary to the agreement on the status of forces.
